Tanks



(No flodel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. L. STAUNTON.

ELEVATOR FOR SGALDING TANKS.

No. 580,066. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. L. STAUNTON.

ELEVATOR FOR SGALDING TANKS.

No. 580,066. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

la/01%;", w WOCJW (No Model.) 4 Sheets8heet 3.

M. L. STAUNTON.

ELEVATOR FOR SGALDING TANKS.

No. 580,066. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

M51666; WW 6 3m (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. M. L. STAUNTON.

ELEVATOR FOR SGALDING TANKS.

No. 580,066. I Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

iiiliMilli!llHHHHiilliHWi!INHHHHEEH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERVIN L. STAUNTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ANGLO- AMERICAN PROVISION COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELEVATOR FOR SCALDING-TANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,066, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed June 24, 1895. Serial No. 553,848. (No model.)

To all whom 211'; may concern:

Be it known that I, MEEvIN L. STAUNTON, a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators for Scalding-Tanks, of which the following is hereby declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention designs to provide the tanks used at slaughter-houses for scalding the carcasses of hogs, &c., with an elevator apparatus by which the carcasses can be automatically lifted from the tank and be discharged overhead onto the delivery-chute or dressingtable.

The nature of the improvement will appear in detail from the description following, and be more particularly pointed out by claim at the conclusion thereof.

In the drawings like parts have like designation throughout.

Figure 1 is a view of the scalding-tank, the elevator apparatus, and the adjacent end of the delivery-platform in central longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation across the main or body portion of the tank; Fig. 3, a view of the tank in side elevation, displaying also the hand-reverser for the elevator; Fig. 4, a detail section view on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 across the sloping end of the tank with a set of the elevator-arms shown in position as carried by the link belts on the side rails of the tank; Fig. 5, a side elevation view of the tightener of the shaft of the carrier-belts, the tightener hood or cover being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail view on line 6 I 6 of Fig. 5.

The tank or vat A is of usual structure to contain the scalding-water, in which the carcasses are submerged immediately after the killing. At one end the sides of the vat A are conveniently made somewhat higher, as at a, Figs. 1 and 5, and are stoutly held in position by the legs or supports 1). Across the top of the tank, between the sides a a, extends the drive-shaft c, mounted in journal-boxes d, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, at the tank sides, and upon the top of the truss-frame c, Fig. 2, arranged in close relation parallel thereto. Set loosely upon the shaft 0 is the sprocket drive-wheel g, with which engages at will the clutchcollar Wheel 9 revolves h, splined to the shaft 0.

constantly, and on shift of clutch it into engagement therewith compels the shaft 0 to rotate. In offset or incline relation to the shaft c is the companion shaft 0, arranged crosswise in the lower part of the tank A and extending through slits 2', Figs. 1, 5, and 6, in the sides thereof. ,The terminals of shaft 0 are received in the boxes 70, which are free to slide along the parallel ways Z, extended from the plate m at the outer face of the tank. Swiveled to the journal-box k is the adjusting-screw n, which engages with the threaded bracket 0, projecting from the vat. By turning the hand-wheel p the shaft 0' can be adjusted up or down in the tank to tighten or release the carrier -belts sustained at the shafts c c, as may be necessary.

The hood or cover q, fastened water-tight on opposite sides of the tank, affords a trap or well to prevent the escape of the water from the tank through the shaft-vents '5. Secured to the shafts c c are the rollers or sprocket-wheels 1' 1'', about which extend the endless carrier belts or chains 8 8. At suitable intervals opposite links on the belt 8 carry upright lugs or cars 25, Figs. 1 and 4, to which, by riveting or otherwise, is fastened the cross-rod u, of angular contour. A series of elevator-fingers o are set in transverse row upon the cross-rod to, being furnished with reverse angular eyes to engage with the rod 6, upon which the fingers are mounted. Sleeves 10 hold the several fingers v at proper distance apart, and these are further strengthened in position by the tie-bars m, Fig. 4:, which are clamped at opposite faces against the row of fingers by bolts and nuts y.

Lugs or supports 2', secured to opposite links of the endless carriers in advance of the elevator-fingers o, aid the fingers to support the body of the animal and keep it clear from enserve to arrest or position the carcasses as these are advanced in succession along the tank in readiness to encounter the elevatorfingers c, which sweep between the baffles 4 to raise the burden clear from the tank. The location of the baffles in near relation to the submerged shaft and its sprocket-wheels r prevents the escape of sinker-carcasses into the pocket or dead-corner of the tank at the back of the elevator mechanism. A series of receiver-bars 5 extend into the path of elevator-fingers 1; near the upper end of the vat and allow the carcass to nicely clear the fingers and be delivered at a sharp incline onto the dressing-table 6.

If a carcass becomes jammed or caught in the machinery, it is desirable at times to reverse the movement of the elevator slightly, farenough to release the carcass. To this end drive-shaft 0, near truss-frame 6, Figs. 2 and 3, rigidly carries the double ratchet 7 8, and loosely, at the side of the ratchet, a handlever 9, having pawl 11, which can be thrown at will into the path of detents on ratchet S. Ordinarily lock-pawl 10 on truss-frame e engages with ratchet 7, and thus holds the shaft 0 and carrier-chains s at a standstill or without counter movement despite the burden of any carcass which may chance to be sustained by the elevator when clutch h on shaft 0 is thrown clear from drive-wheel g to stop the machine. By disengaging pawl and ratchet 1O 7 and engaging the companion pawl and ratchet 11 8 the hand-lever 9 can be used to reverse the shaft 0 and carrier-chains 3 far enough to ease or release a carcass, if this has become jammed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with the scalding-tank and with its set of bafiles submerged near the bot as described.

MERVIN L. STAUNTON. lVitnesses KELLOGG FARIBAULT, ARTHUR W. HALE. 

